Pinsent Masons LLP is ‘always prepared to go above and beyond’ for its roster of clients, from advising London boroughs on CPOs for major regeneration schemes, to handling all planning aspects of energy and infrastructure projects, particularly in the renewables sector, as well as urban extension matters. Practice leader Jonathan Riley is noted for his expertise in national infrastructure planning and transport mandates, while Jan Bessell advises clients on Planning Act 2008 consenting processes. Other key members of the team include Nick McDonald, who is a key contact for energy projects and CPOs, and Jo Miles, who focuses on the planning aspects of residential and mixed-use developments.
Planning in Yorkshire And The Humber
Pinsent Masons LLP
Practice head(s):
Jon Riley
Other key lawyers:
Jan Bessell; Nick McDonald; Jo Miles
Testimonials
‘Always prepared to go above and beyond, doing their best for clients in a pragmatic, commercially-savvy and realistic way.’
‘The stand out characteristic of this team is their consistent commitment to clients over long running projects. The service levels remain very high throughout the natural ebbs and flows of a project. Their dependability to be able to respond swiftly and comprehensively with little notice is outstanding.’
‘The team are very good to work with. Exceptional at listening and very empathetic and adaptable to client pressures. This gives them a value above and beyond their scope of legal services. They are able to provide wise counsel on other aspects of a project through their understanding of the client and ability to foresee potential issues arising in advance.’
‘Jon Riley deserves a special mention. Despite taking on the head of Leeds office position, his fantastic service to the client/project has not dipped at all. We don’t know how he does it but are very grateful to have him appointed.’
Key clients
EPH Group (EP UK Investments / Eggborough Power / EP SHB)
Leeds City Council
Sunderland City Council
South Tyneside Council
BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
Science Museum Group
Network Rail
London Legacy Development Corporation
Ballymore Group
South Gloucestershire Council
Homes England
Vitol (VPI Immingham B Ltd / VPI Immingham LLP)
London Borough of Wandsworth
Cumbria County Council
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Viridor Energy Limited
London Borough of Hackney
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Westminster City Council
Work highlights
- Advising BP Exploration Operating Company Limited on the consenting of Net Zero Teesside project, its carbon capture, usage and storage project which aims to decarbonise a cluster of carbon-intensive industries before 2030.
- Advising South Gloucestershire Council on policy and various planning applications relating to the regeneration of the East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood.
- Advising on all aspects of Cumbria County Council’s Carlisle Southern Link Road, which will unlock development land for the 10,000 home St Cuthbert’s Garden Village.
Walker Morris LLP
Praised for its ‘strength in depth and a first-class advocacy service’, Walker Morris LLP’s workload includes residential and mixed-use developments, energy and infrastructure projects, particularly in the waste and renewables sectors, as well as compulsory purchase mandates. Practice leader and advocate Richard Sagar, who is commended as ‘a first-rate legal mind’, advises on planning applications, compulsory purchase matters and disputes in the High Court, while ‘highly knowledgeable‘ solicitor and barrister Alison Ogley has experience in high profile planning appeal cases. Chris Slater is another key member of the team and is noted for his work on section 106 planning obligations.
Practice head(s):
Richard Sagar
Other key lawyers:
Alison Ogley; Chris Slater; Robert Moore
Testimonials
‘The team is very experienced, motivated and forensic in their consideration of the detail. The team has a reputation (well earned) for considering all the potential angles in a case and are highly organised, and this is a reflection of their intimate understanding and expertise. Client and consultant relationships are well developed.’
‘Richard Sagar is a fantastic advocate and has superb tactical judgment and a first-rate legal mind.’
‘Walker Morris provides expert and focused planning legal advice, not just from a law and regulatory point of view, but also on strategy and tactics. Their advice is well considered, sophisticated and with a great attention to detail.’
‘Alison Ogley is fantastic and highly knowledgeable. Rob Moore is brilliant and so easy to work with.’
‘Strength in depth and a first-class advocacy service.’
‘Robert Moore is outstanding for his combination of shrewd tactical and strategic advice, coupled with a phenomenal grasp of detail; a very unusual combination as one usually finds one or the other, it’s rare to find both in one individual.’
‘Walker Morris has an excellent reputation in this field and are renowned for their quality of work and proven success rate, all of which I have experienced first hand. They have a forensic approach and leave no stone unturned.’
‘Their partners are always engaged in the process, and never do you find they ‘pitch and ditch’. Highly informed on all legal planning issues, and always able to give an early opinion. I would note that Richard Sagar is the epitome of the firm. Thorough, engaged in the project, highly knowledgeable, accessible and always available. Best summed up as an all round team player.’
Key clients
Arla Foods
Anchor
Asda Stores
Avant Homes
Axiom
Berkley De Veer
BDW Group
Bellway Homes
Bowmer & Kirkland Limited
Caddick Group
Commercial Estates Group
Commercial Development Projects
FCC Environment (UK) Limited
Galliford Try
Gleeson Developments
Hallam Land Management Ltd
Highstone Homes
Homes England
Mulgrave
Newett Homes
Park Lane Properties Ltd
Redrow Homes
Taylor Wimpey
The Peel Group
Town Centre Securities plc
Unite Group
Work highlights
- Represented FCC at a public inquiry lasting ten days, which was held following a refusal of a section 73 application to vary a number of conditions, which would extend the lifetime span of the landfill until 2037 and set out new dates for a full restoration of the site.
- Advised Axiom, whose development site comprises 43 hectares of land in the Green Belt adjacent to J32 of the M62, in the promotion of the site for an alternative use as an employment/logistical hub for large scale distribution/storage operators.
- Acted for Hallam Land Management and obtaining planning permission, ultimately on appeal, for c.100 homes.
CMS
CMS handles a broad range of mandates, from town regeneration schemes and residential developments, including student accommodation and build-to-rent, to energy and infrastructure projects, as well as advising clients on re-purposing retail assets. The team, which is well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s Sheffield and Manchester offices, is jointly led by Chris Bowes and Rebecca Roffe. Praised for providing ‘excellent advice that does not “sit on the fence”’, Roffe has experience in securing consent for developers and operators in the residential and commercial spheres, while Bowes handles minerals planning and compulsory purchase matters, and also advises on CPO and compensation issues relating to HS2. The team was boosted by the arrival of dual-qualified barrister and solicitor David Hardy from Squire Patton Boggs in August 2022.
Practice head(s):
Chris Bowes; Rebecca Roffe
Other key lawyers:
David Hardy
Testimonials
‘Rebecca Roffe is a standout partner. She is approachable and very capable.’
‘Solid advice from lawyers who really know their stuff. Nothing more, nothing less.’
‘Rebecca Roffe provides excellent advice that does not “sit on the fence.” This is a rare quality and is very much appreciated.’
Key clients
The Crown Estate
Hammerson Plc
Far East Consortium
U+I
Copley Point
Big Yellow
SEGRO
Tarmac
Sibelco
Muse Developments
PineBridge Benson Elliot
UBS
NEAT Developments
BlackRock
North York Moors National Park Authority
Bolton Council
Assura
Ma6nitude Land LLP
Curlew
Vita / Select
Union Living
InfraRed UK Lion Nominee 1 Limited (in administration) and InfraRed UK Lion Nominee 2 Limited (in administration)
CBRE Global Investors
Grants of Shoreditch
Coda Planning
NewRiver
Sovereign Centros
Cadent Gas
Tristan Capital Partners
Middlesex University
Goldman Sachs
Work highlights
- Advising Cadent Gas Limited on its proposed Development Consent Order application for the Hynet North West Hydrogen Pipeline, which is part of the HyNet North West low carbon cluster, an innovative project that will unlock a low carbon economy for the North West and North Wales.
- Advising InfraRed on the comprehensive regeneration of Basildon centre, by way of the mixed-use residential-led redevelopment of the current Eastgate Shopping Centre, which will introduce more than 2800 homes into the town.
- Advising Select / VITA (and their co-living arm Union Living) on their build to rent, student and other residential-led schemes across the country, including the T1 and T2 co-living schemes at First Street/Water Street in Manchester.
DWF
The planning practice at DWF is led by Andrew Batterton, who ‘provides well-thought-out strategies to navigate complex issues’ in regeneration, development, energy and infrastructure projects, as well as advising on mandates involving land assembly under compulsory purchase. The team has demonstrable experience across the transport, retail, hospitality and leisure, minerals, health and education sectors, and counts local authorities, public bodies and private companies among its key roster of clients. Legal director Michelle Spark departed the firm in November 2021.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Batterton
Other key lawyers:
Stephanie Smith
Testimonials
‘Andrew Batterton is the lead on our projects and he is clear and precise in his advice. He quickly understands the potential issues and provides well-thought-out strategies to navigate complex issues.’
‘The DWF team delivers a highly professional, customer-focused service, working in a truly collaborative fashion with the client’s representatives and with other consultants employed on major development schemes.’
‘Andrew Batterton ‘choreographs’ the many steps towards planning and CPO goals, with a reassuring far-sightedness borne of experience.’
‘The team are responsive and provides practical advice distilling a complex area of compulsory purchase issues.’
‘Andrew Batterton is fully client-focused and provides astute commercial advice on legal issues.’
‘The team is very knowledgeable and has a broad spectrum of experience to access swiftly.’
Key clients
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Cornwall Council
Welsh Government
National Grid Grain LNG
BT
Whitbread
Wavin Limited
Greater Anglia Trains
Selby Council
North Tyneside Council
Work highlights
- Advising London Borough of Greenwich in relation to promotion of compulsory purchase orders and securing planning permission to deliver transformational housing (c.10,000 units) and mixed-use regeneration projects in Woolwich, Plumstead Power Station and at Charlton Riverside.
- Advising Cornwall Council regarding the promotion of compulsory purchase orders, side road orders and planning permission to deliver strategic highway improvements to the A30 Loogans Moor and A39 Camelford Bypass.
- Advising Welsh Government regarding the promotion of its Global Centre of Rail Excellence, land compensation matters in respect of A465 Head of Valleys Road Scheme and legislative framework for delivery of carbon capture across Wales.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP’s planning team is praised as ‘a safe pair of hands’ when advising on wind, solar and energy from waste projects, transport infrastructure mandates, as well as retail and residential developments. Practice leader Peter Nesbit’s planning expertise covers energy and infrastructure projects, particularly in the renewables sector, national rail transport matters, commercial developments and CPOs. Other key members of the team include legal director Roddy Macdonald, who is noted for his expertise in the house building sector, and principal associate Paul McLean, who advises educational institutions on the planning aspects of developments.
Practice head(s):
Peter Nesbit
Other key lawyers:
Roddy Macdonald; Paul McLean
Testimonials
‘The planning team that I work with at Eversheds are friendly, well informed and a safe pair of hands. They have excellent knowledge of development projects and are up to speed with the latest issues that can cause problems on development projects in planning and public inquiry.’
‘Each individual within the practice appears to recognises his or her value within the team and they pull together very effectively to provide a seamless service.’
‘Their attention to detail, whilst also being able to step back and give strategic advice on project direction, is invaluable. They stand side by side with the client and share the end goal of each project they get involved in.’
Key clients
Segro PLC
Precis Capital Partners
Homes England
Miller Homes and Kier Ventures Limited
Network Rail
Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd
EDF Energy Renewables Ltd
Force 9 Energy Partners LLP
Infinergy Limited
Work highlights
Schofield Sweeney
Schofield Sweeney provides strategic planning advice on large residential-led, mixed-use developments, and counts enforcement appeals, S106 planning agreements and compulsory purchase mandates in its workload. ‘Highly professional, yet personable’ practice leader Amanda Beresford is a qualified planner and is noted for her expertise in residential developments and regeneration schemes, as well as in energy and infrastructure projects. A recent work highlight includes assisting national bakery chain, Greggs, in objecting to a residential planning application proposed adjacent to its food manufacturing plant in the North East.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Amanda Beresford is a leader in the field of planning law in Leeds and the wider city region. Amanda is highly professional, yet personable in her client facing role and her wider involvement with the chambers of commerce (local and national) provides greater insight and influence which is invaluable.’
‘We have worked with Amanda Beresford , who has been quick to understand our issues and to formulate a plan of action. Amanda has consistently met all deadlines and has exceeded our expectations with regard to quality and completeness of work carried out on our behalf. At all times, we have felt expertly guided and options/legal positions have been clearly and carefully explained. She is a standout partner within this firm.’
Key clients
Caddick City Living Limited
Moda Living Limited
Olympia park Developments Limited
Chatsworth Settlement Trustees
Cubico Limited
Greggs plc
Roger Tempest (Broughton Hall Estate)
Bramall Properties limited
Chatsworth House Trust
Greenhouse Group
Adam Morey Limited
Earthline Limited
Falconsone Limited
Delta Park Developments Limited
Work highlights
- Assisting Greggs plc in objecting to a residential planning application proposed adjacent to its food manufacturing plant in the North East.
- Representing Cubico Limited in relation to an objection to the Network Rail (Huddersfield to Westtown (Dewsbury) Improvements) Order.
- Advising Caddick City Living Limited on the £300m residential led mixed-use development in central Leeds.
Squire Patton Boggs
Counting energy and utility companies, local authorities, retail operators and commercial and residential developers among its key list of clients, Squire Patton Boggs has demonstrable expertise in national infrastructure projects and is also noted for its capability in contentious planning matters. Senior associates David Myers and Gemma Newell assists clients in compulsory purchase matters and regeneration schemes.
Other key lawyers:
David Myers; Gemma Newell
Key clients
Community Wind Power Limited
Low Carbon
Black Mountain Renewables
Wessex Energy Limited
Aldwark Toll Bridge Limited
Western Power Distribution
Falck Renewables
Fred Olsen Renewables
Elgin Energy
Clear Channel
East Lindsey District Council
The Co-op
Leavesley Group
Reckitts
Taylor Wimpey
Karbon Homes
Loxley Homes
DHLand Limited
Strata Homes
Homes by Carlton
Wendy’s
Watkin Jones Group
SP Manweb plc
Electricity North West
Northern Powergrid
Northern Gas Networks
Leeds City Council
Work highlights
- Advising Community Wind Power Limited on the Sanquhar 2 Wind Farm in Dumfries and Galloway, one of the largest on-shore wind farms yet proposed in Scotland at 308 MW.
- Advising East Lindsey District Council on several flood risk related matters, where the Environment Agency has objected to 40 planning applications made by caravan park operators and three applications were called in by the Secretary of State as test cases.
- Advising Vital Energi (Drakelow) Limited in relation to a judicial review against South Derbyshire District, which unlawfully granted a Reserved Matters Approval to a neighbouring landowner in such a way as to threaten Vital’s existing REC facility.
Weightmans
Weightmans is noted for its expertise in large-scale energy infrastructure projects and residential developments, as well as for its work on compulsory purchase orders and challenges to judicial reviews. Praised for his ‘ability to give advice on complex issues in a practical and accessible way’, practice leader Lee Gordon has experience in infrastructure projects and residential development schemes. Bob Pritchard left to Shoosmiths LLP in April 2021, while Michelle Spark joined from DWF in October 2021 and focuses on the planning aspects of regeneration and infrastructure projects.
Practice head(s):
Lee Gordon
Other key lawyers:
Michelle Spark
Testimonials
‘Responsive and easy to work with, excellent breadth of experience across the sector.’
‘Lee Gordon is approachable and has the ability to present advice on complex issues in a practical and accessible way.’
‘The real estate team has a high level of expertise. They are able to deal with technical queries quickly and simply. Their straightforward advice can prevent matters from escalating unnecessarily and they are all easy to deal with, personable, sensible and responsive.’
Key clients
Northern Powergrid
Welsh Government
City of York Council
Harlow & Gilston Garden Town partner authorities
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Royal Mail Group
Prospect Estates Limited
Leeds City Council
Thornton Hall Hotel
Casey Group Limited
Nottinghamshire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council, Cotswold District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council
Barratt & David Wilson Homes
Charnwood Borough Council
5th Leisure Limited
Bolton Council
Cumbria County Council and Eden District Council
Work highlights
- Advising Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on the promotion of the Mersey Tidal Energy Project.
- Advising Harlow & Gilston Garden Town Partners in relation to delivery of Harlow Garden Town, a project which comprises 23,000 dwellings and infrastructure, including new river crossings and sustainable transport corridors.
- Advising City of York Council regarding the promotion of a proposed CPO and planning aspects for the £75m York Outer Ring Road Dualling Scheme.
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP counts energy, waste and transport infrastructure projects in its workload, in addition to regeneration schemes and compulsory purchase matters, while also advising national housebuilders, landowners and local authorities on delivering housing schemes. Claire Brook heads the Leeds-based practice and is noted for her experience in acting for energy and waste developers in securing planning permission, environmental permits and DCOs for large-scale infrastructure projects. Managing associates James Garbett, who specialises in town and country planning mandates, and Helen Robinson are key contacts in the team.
Practice head(s):
Claire Brook
Other key lawyers:
James Garbett; Helen Robinson
Testimonials
‘Excellent knowledge and good experience at all levels of seniority.’
‘Helen Robinsion has a fantastic eye for detail, great knowledge and a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
Fareham Borough Council
Solar 21 Renewable Energy Limited
Taylor Wimpey UK Limited
Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Augean PLC
BDW Trading Limited (Barratt Homes)
Rentplus UK Limited
Persimmon Homes Limited
Places for People Homes Limited
London Borough of Lewisham
Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership
Historic England
Leeds City Council
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Commercial Estates Group (CEG)
Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.
Grainger PLC
Linden Homes Limited (part of the Vistry Group)
Harron Homes Limited
BUPA Care Homes
LRC Management Europe Limited
Karbon Homes Limited
Strata Homes Limited
Fairbank Investments Limited
Highstone Housing Association
Work highlights
- Advised the Fareham Borough Council on the drafting and negotiation of a Section 106 Agreement, together with related planning and highways matters, linked to the development of a 6,000 dwelling new settlement to be known as Welborne Garden Village.
- Advising Solar 21 Renewable Energy Limited in relation to an application for a Development Consent Order for a Green Energy Park in Lincolnshire.
- Advised Taylor Wimpey on multiple schemes, both across the Yorkshire region and nationally.
Addleshaw Goddard
Managing associate Daniel Marston heads up Addleshaw Goddard’s Leeds-based team and from the firm’s London office, Marnix Elsenaar oversees the planning and infrastructure consenting practice. Marston assists regional developers, including Strawson, Horncastle, Hub, Muse and Sewell, and focuses on the planning aspects of energy, residential and mixed-use developments. The team also counts regeneration projects in its workload.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Marston; Marnix Elsenaar
Key clients
BP
National Grid
SGN
Strawson
Newark and Sherwood District Council
London Luton Airport
Muse
Sewell
Richardson and Ask Real Estate
Horncastle Group
Siemens
Vita
Threadneedle
Euro Properties
Luton Borough Council
Aviva
Boklok Housing
Calderdale Council
Kirklees Council
Hub Group
Network Rail
Asda
UPL
Bruntwood
Work highlights
- Acting for Richardson and Ask Real Estate on the development of a c.£57m, 245 unit build-to-rent scheme at Tower Works, Holbeck, Leeds.
- Obtaining planning permission for the development of the Yorkshire Energy Park, which will include 39MW of on-site energy generation, a 600 rack data centre and circa 83,074sqm of industrial and distribution floorspace for Hull Eco Parks Limited.
- Advising Hub (in partnership with bridges fund management) on the purchase of two residential sites on Whitehall road in Leeds, and on its subsequent planning application and section 106 agreement.
Blacks Solicitors LLP
Blacks Solicitors LLP’s planning team ‘punches above its weight in terms of experience and knowledge, but still retains a good “local” understanding with its base in Leeds’. Practice leader James Cook specialises in town and country planning, highways and compulsory purchase matters, and advises on regeneration and development projects across the residential, mixed-use and retail sectors. Praised for going ‘the extra mile’ for her clients, senior associate Katy McPhie is another key contact in the team.
Practice head(s):
James Cook
Other key lawyers:
Katy McPhie
Testimonials
‘The team punches above its weight in terms of experience and knowledge, but still retains a good “local” understanding with its base in Leeds.’
‘Katy McPhie was a pleasure to deal with on the other side of a transaction. She was open to discussions around my client’s viewpoint and made negotiations a friendly collaborative process.’
‘Always prepared to go above and beyond, doing their best for clients in a pragmatic, commercially-savvy and realistic way.’
‘James Cook is an extremely knowledgeable, thorough and articulate planning solicitor. He is very approachable, conscientious and dependable, and is always prepared to go ‘above-and-beyond’ to ensure that complex legal points are explained and communicated.’
‘Good knowledge of the sector, very responsive and always available.’
‘James Cook is ferociously smart and extremely passionate about planning law; I am yet to meet a solicitor that provides the level of detail and information pertinent to your case. James is very acute to every opportunity that exists to secure the very best outcome for the client.’
‘Katy McPhie was very professional throughout and I really got the sense that she had my best interests at heart, no matter how small the issue, I’d definitely say she went the extra mile.’
‘Both James Cook and Katy McPhie are very responsive to any queries and are great to work with.’
Key clients
Stepnell Developments Limited
The Grammar School At Leeds
YPP group of companies
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
The Wyedean Weaving Company Limited
Scarborough Group International
Wilton Developments Limited
Hargreaves (GB) Limited
Fluorsid British Fluorspar Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Stepnell Developments Limited regarding land promotion and obtaining planning permission for the development of approximately 50 hectares of land for a sustainable urban extension of up 1,100 dwellings, a primary school, new local centre and associated infrastructure, as well as negotiating section 106 agreement securing obligations, equating to c.£11m.
- Advised Wilton Developments Limited on obtaining planning permission for 3.5 million square feet of industrial and warehousing development on approximately 74 hectares of land in South Yorkshire, while also negotiating section 106 agreement (securing obligations equating to c.£1.5m).
- Advised Scarborough Group International on planning matters relating to a £25.4m loan to a subsidiary by OakNorth Bank, in connection with a new nine floor 133,118 sq ft office building at Thorpe Park, Leeds.
DLA Piper
Counting High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, National Highways and Merlin Entertainments among its key roster of clients, DLA Piper includes national infrastructure matters, particularly in the transport sector, as well as energy projects, urban developments and regeneration mandates, in its workload. Senior associate Claire Stoneman remains a key contact in the team. Based in the firm’s North West office, Sophie Stewart joined from Brabners LLP in January 2022 and supports the Leeds-based practice.
Practice head(s):
Sophie Stewart
Other key lawyers:
Claire Stoneman
Key clients
High Speed Two (HS2) Limited
National Highways
East West Railway Company Limited
Merlin Entertainments
National Grid
Aggregate Industries
Elan Homes
Manchester Airports Group
Oval Real Estate
Sytner Limited
4th Industrial (UK) Limited Partnership
St James’s Place UK Plc
Ark Data Centres Limited
Work highlights
- Advising on the planning strategy and defending proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in relation to the Merlin Entertainments’ development of Legoland, Windsor.
- Advising HS2 on an ongoing basis, a range of matters, including the first appeal and judicial review under Schedule 17 to the HS2 Act, references to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) in relation to compensation and the extent of the powers granted by the Act to enable construction of the scheme.
- Engaged on the road improvement strategy for National Highways and successfully promoted one development consent order for A1 Birtley to Coal House, as well as completing a second development consent order for A1 Morpeth to Ellingham and are engaged in active pre-application discussions on a third for the A5036 Port of Liverpool Access Scheme.
LB & Co Limited
Planning boutique LB & Co Limited has an ‘excellent understanding of all aspects of planning law relating to commercial and other property developments, including related disciplines such highways and environmental matters’. Carolyn Lord and Kate Butterfield jointly lead the practice and between them have considerable experience in infrastructure projects, often involving CPOs, as well as large-scale developments and housing projects. Key clients include CEG (Commercial Estates Group), Persimmon Homes Limited and GMI Group, among others.
Practice head(s):
Carolyn Lord; Kate Butterfield
Testimonials
‘Excellent understanding of all aspects of planning law relating to commercial and other property developments, including related disciplines such highways and environmental matters.’
‘Carolyn Lord is, by any definition, an exceptional solicitor, team player and thoughtful operator, who sees opportunities and can identify risks. This is particularly important on large-scale development projects with three dimensional challenges to resolve in the shape of politics, planning law and desirable commercial outcomes.’
‘Detailed knowledge, very strong experience in a wide range of projects and exceptional interpersonal skills and client relationships. Very reliable and first-rate advice.’
‘Kate Butterfield is a friendly and helpful solicitor, who is always willing to provide initial advice.’
‘High quality personal service.’
‘The team is 100% dedicated to addressing client needs in an above and beyond way. LB & Co culture is very much a can-do and what more can I do attitude, which makes collaboration easy across wide multidisciplinary teams.’
Key clients
CEG (Commercial Estates Group)
Persimmon Homes Limited
GMI Properties Limited
Litton Properties
Hoyland Developments Limited
DB Cargo (UK) Limited
Myers Group
Countryside Properties
Strata Sterling
Capital Concrete Limited
Eurovia Infrastructure Limited
Work highlights
Rollits LLP
Rollits LLP’s planning and development practice is led by Mark Dixon, who focuses on planning and infrastructure agreements, as well as issues relating to land promotion, and has additional experience in planning appeals. The team is praised for its ‘excellent reputation for client relationships’, particularly with landowners, housebuilders and commercial developers. Associates Libby Clarkson and Stuart Lamb are also key members of the team.
Practice head(s):
Mark Dixon
Other key lawyers:
Libby Clarkson; Stuart Lamb
Testimonials
‘Mark Dixon is one of the leading planning and development lawyer in the region. The team as a whole have an excellent reputation for client relationships. Rollits adapted quickly to the challenges posed by the recent pandemic.’
‘Libby Clarkson is a highly competent lawyer, who is knowledgeable, approachable and good with clients.’
Key clients
Ward Homes Yorkshire Limited
Lindum Group Limited
West Ella Holdings Limited
Colten Developments Limited
Persimmon Homes (Yorkshire)
St Helen’s Farm
Eastburn Farms Limited
Akkeri Developments Limited
Cranswick PLC
Colten Care Limited
Work highlights
Walton & Co (Planning Lawyers) Limited
Boutique firm Walton & Co (Planning Lawyers) Limited specialises in planning, highways and compulsory purchase matters and acts for a range of clients, from national land promoters and housebuilders to student accommodation providers, retailers and commercial developers. Practice leader David Walton, who ‘has the experience needed to hold the tiller’, advises on strategic developments and land promotion mandates, while director Alec Cropper is ‘someone you want in your corner’ when acting for clients in planning appeals and applications.
Practice head(s):
David Walton
Other key lawyers:
Alec Cropper
Testimonials
‘Walton & Co is a boutique planning law firm. As such, their solicitors are specialists in the field, and have an excellent substantive knowledge in all aspects of planning and highways work. The practical experience of their team also means that they are able to provide valuable input when formulating case strategies, which is particularly useful in contested appeal and court proceedings.’
‘David Walton has the experience needed to hold the tiller. He is well-respected and approachable.’
‘They are an excellent firm with first-class planning law expertise, who have provided excellent service to our clients. They are very easy to work with, they will work directly with our clients or as sub-contractor to us – whatever our clients prefer.’
‘I work with Alec Cropper who is first-rate. His expertise and experience make him a standout lawyer and he is very approachable for those quick questions.’
‘Exceptional understanding of the issues, clear and detailed advice, prompt responses, pragmatic, excellent planning knowledge.’
‘Alec Cropper is a superb solicitor, and will leave no stone unturned in getting the best possible outcome. He is extremely knowledgeable, approachable, and a real ‘go-to’ if you need an issue solving. He is definitely someone you want in your corner. David Walton is hugely experienced, and is a reassuring presence as part of any project team. There is never a situation which he has not encountered and dealt with before, and we really value his insights. His advice is always commercial, pragmatic, and targeted to our needs.’
‘The practise always offers a quick and personable service in a timely manner.’
‘We worked with Alec Cropper, who assisted with a planning appeal from start to finish. Alec was a pleasure to work with. He created a clear strategy for the appeal, which helped the process run smoothly. Alec was able to simplify a complex process and coordinate the actions. Alec has great knowledge of the local authority we were involved in, which helped to shape a project specific solution.’
Key clients
CEG
Wren Kitchens
Skipton Properties
Yorkshire Housing
Opus North
Alumno Group
Amber Valley Borough Council
Heritage Holdings
Pickard Properties
Yorkshire Land
Stonebridge Homes
Lancaster City Council
Wilton Developments
Work highlights
- Advised CEG in obtaining planning permission for separate residential projects in Cambridge and Lancaster, following the successful promotion through the local plan process and examination in public.
- Advising Wren Kitchens in seeking planning approval for four separate sites across Lincolnshire and Essex for new factory and logistics developments, some of which involve public inquiry proceedings.
- Acted for Yorkshire Housing in respect of a successful appeal for a residential site in North Yorkshire, including securing a full award of costs in the client’s favour.